Asking for a raise

[KEV1N]

I'll make this short. I just want a few opinions on my current situation.

I've been at my current place of employment for a year (university setting). I was hired a year ago on a contract basis, term length 1 year, full time. In that year I've made valuable contributions to the department in terms of information systems, mainly web application programming.

My contract was expiring so naturally I applied around to different departments. I recently signed on to a permanent position as a web designer for the puhlic communications department of the university. I jumped up 2 levels (classified as a Programmer 3, previously a 1). The increase in salary is roughly 20% from my previous position.

The catch is, the new position is half time. My current department wants me, and offered me a 5% increase and a new position at half time, though it is still at the Programmer 1 level. Is it ethical to ask for a full 20% increase in salary to match my new job? I like working at my current job, the only issue is equal pay. Am I asking too much? And yes, I can always say "no".

 

[jemcam]

You've got nothing to lose by asking. Go ahead, all they can say is no, and if they do, go to the other job.

 

[KEV1N]

Thanks for replying. I've already accepted the other job, the thing is it's Half-Time. My current employer is trying to keep me for the other half at 15% less than the other job, for doing almost the same thing.

At first they wanted to give me no raise, just have me continue at my current salary (Cut in half, of course). The 5% offer from them was a result of me mentioning I'd be making 20% more at the other job. This would be my 2nd request.

 

[acemcmac]

University politics suck.... two beaurocracies (residential authority and administrative computing) just finished fighting over who was going to be forced to hire me and administrative computing lost.... the difference is half the hours and 60% the pay from what I would have expected from the residential authority... for the same "24/7" network response job. I call shens on them 🙁

I'm gunna be working two jobs this fall. Thanks for nothin....

 

[KEV1N]

Thanks, it's good to know someone knows what I have to deal with. How can I be worth 2 different amounts, in different halves of the same day, doing the same thing?

 

[iotone]

man oh man oh man... i'm a grad student working on campus doing some IT development, and not only am i getting paid less than my undergrad collegues (and with only a part time/student position), the guy who graduated with me who has the full-time status does less work and still gets paid more... not to mention that i'm one of the core developers of a system that we just deployed, and i'm getting smoke blown in my face about attaining a full-time position...

anyone need someone who's almost done with his master's degree?? let me know.

 

[iotone]

oh sorry, i forgot to say: don't be afraid to ask for that raise, and if they turn you down, turn them down. just my embittered .02 (towards the university, not you of course 🙂 )

 

[SuPrEIVIE]

why do you want a raise?

can't you wait until your manager etc give you one?

 

[KEV1N]

I want one mainly for equity reasons. I got a new job that pays more and I just want a match since I'm done the same thing. It's not technically a "raise"; my former contract ended and this is negotiations for a new one.

And my manager will never give me a raise. People have gone through years (5+) in this department with no raises. The management always cites "budget constraints" but somehow these constraints never apply when adjusting their own salaries 🙂. Working for the government has its perks but this isn't one.

 

[DJFuji]

on the other hand, the government is usually more stable than private sector. If money is important, i'd look elsewhere for another part time position that pays better.